OK all you SF-area Cirrusites

Unlike most of the rest of you who’ve weighed in from the SF area, I’m based not in Silicon Valley – near SQL or PAO or RHV airports – but in Berkeley, on the east side of the bay. From our house it’s a tossup in distance and travel time between mighty Oakland airport, OAK, and the more bucolic (and hotter) Concord/Buchanan, CCR. I’m looking for a FBO for rentals etc. Anyone have experience or opinions, pro or con, about these two airports or about specific FBOs?

Thanks, jf.

James,

I’m a fellow Berkeley Cirrusite. I used to fly out of Buchanan 25 years ago with the UC Flying club. I recently decided to take up flying again, and tracked down the club to see about flying with them while I wait for my SR20. I found they’ve moved to Oakland, so they might be a good source of comparative info. You can contact them through www.ucfc.org. I haven’t flown there yet, and I don’t know anything about the FBO, but I like what I’ve seen so far at the airport. For one thing, there’s actually some hope of getting into a hangar. I’ll be looking at Buchanan too, and I’ll let you know what I find. Please let me know what you learn too.

Unlike most of the rest of you who’ve weighed in from the SF area, I’m based not in Silicon Valley – near SQL or PAO or RHV airports – but in Berkeley, on the east side of the bay. From our house it’s a tossup in distance and travel time between mighty Oakland airport, OAK, and the more bucolic (and hotter) Concord/Buchanan, CCR. I’m looking for a FBO for rentals etc. Anyone have experience or opinions, pro or con, about these two airports or about specific FBOs?

Thanks, jf.

I’ll preface this by saying I have a 172 in leaseback at OAK in the Alameda Aero Club.

Tough call from where you are located. OAK is probably a quicker drive and you don’t have to chance the tunnel delay. Although you are going to have a better chance of VFR if you fly out of CCR. Price is about the same per hour.

If I could do it, I’d have my plane in LVK near my house, but I’m getting a better leaseback deal in OAK.

Unlike most of the rest of you who’ve weighed in from the SF area, I’m based not in Silicon Valley – near SQL or PAO or RHV airports – but in Berkeley, on the east side of the bay. From our house it’s a tossup in distance and travel time between mighty Oakland airport, OAK, and the more bucolic (and hotter) Concord/Buchanan, CCR. I’m looking for a FBO for rentals etc. Anyone have experience or opinions, pro or con, about these two airports or about specific FBOs?

Thanks, jf.

I have a C172-M on lease to the UC Flying Club, located at Oakland. I am treasurer of the club and am therefore disqualified for bias, but I think OAK is far superior to CCR, especially for someone with an instrument rating. My plane (actually, my LLC’s plane) rents for $72 on the tach, which I think is one of the best deals around. The plane has the usual infirmities of a 1973 plane, but we keep it in good shape. Contact me for more information.

Unlike most of the rest of you who’ve weighed in from the SF area, I’m based not in Silicon Valley – near SQL or PAO or RHV airports – but in Berkeley, on the east side of the bay. From our house it’s a tossup in distance and travel time between mighty Oakland airport, OAK, and the more bucolic (and hotter) Concord/Buchanan, CCR. I’m looking for a FBO for rentals etc. Anyone have experience or opinions, pro or con, about these two airports or about specific FBOs?

Thanks, jf.